I couldn't narrow it down to ten, there's too many great figures. Here's my top ten Joes and Cobras in no particular order.

GI Joe:
Clutch
Rock N' Roll V2
Tunnel Rat
Airtight
Recondo
Frostbite
Bombstrike
Outback
Blowtorch
Airborne

Cobra:
Firefly
Night-Viper
Baroness
Viper
Crimson Guard
Nightstalkers
Snow Serpent
Scrap-Iron
Monkeywrench
Nightwatch Trooper

__________________
My JoeDios photos | Flickr

Just figures, not characters. Favorites from my childhood, except 1,2 and 3 that I didn't have back then.

01. Destro 83
02. Storm Shadow 84
03. Snake Eyes 85
04. Quick Kick 85
05. BATs 86
06. Zandar 86
07. Big Boa 87
08. Croc Master 87
09. Outback 87
10. Falcon 87

__________________

This is a toughie this will take some time to compile

__________________
So far, this is the oldest I have ever been.

Not quite in order, but I tried to think of figures I like to keep around:
1. BAT v1 (hey, the lower half alone made for a million Vipers! Hi-tech Cobra works for me, so a little Terminator in my GIJoe is okay)
2. Stalker v1.5 (vintage, but he looks great with all years' figures)
3. Iron Grenadier v1 (not too sci-fi, but a radically different shock trooper)
4. Airborne v1 (another vintage guy that, even with the light blue, looks great with newer figures)
5. Snake Eyes v1 (or any remold of it. V2 is iconic, but I just like the goggles/skimask look for a commando)
6. Cobra Officer v1 (love the mold, and it looks great as the Stinger driver too)
7. Firefly v1 (or most repaints; I don't shoot him much, but same as Stalker, he holds up over the years)
8. Major Bludd v1 (always liked this figure; he's had cool updates, but the original stands)
9. Viper v15 (the Viper Pit; nevermind the boots; better paint detailing than v1, and I'm not afraid to let it get beat up)
10. Cobra Trooper v1 (includes TBM customs; fill a scene with them and you can't go wrong. A much better "grunt" than Grunt)

Honorable Mention:
arctic Stalker (v2+v4 custom; if it snows, I'm usually taking a photo with him in it)
Zartan v1 (unusual, yet perfect look for a mysterious character)
Crimson Guard (I just like the look, and the TBM customs helped get them on the battlefield)
Cobra Commander v1.5 (some of his updates were cool, but this figure never gets put away)

Beach Head
Bullhorn
Dusty
Firefly
Flint
Iron Grenadiers
Low-light
Shockwave
Snake Eyes
Storm Shadow

__________________
My Sites
Eternity Toys
Superiorville Toy blog
Urban Saboteur Stories

Social Sites & Communities
Facebook
Flickr
Tweet Me

DAMN IT!!!! forgot the Night-Viper too

__________________
MY FLICKR PAGE......

Me top 10 off the top of my head...

• 93 Battle Corps Duke
• 86 B.A.T
• 87 Blizzard
• 89 Night-Viper
• 86 Jinx
• 87 Lt Falcon
• 86 Viper
• 86 Tunnel Rat
• 86 Zarana
• 86 Thrasher

__________________

1 - Lt. Falcon v1;
2 - Flint v1;
3 - Stalker (Comic Pack);
4 - Lady Jaye (Comic pack);
5 - Apinista (Brazilian HnR);
6 - Zartan (comic pack);
7 - Firefly (Comic pack);
8 - Alley Viper (blue)
9 - Rock Viper (Range Viper)
10 - One of my BOPE customs.

__________________

1. Barbecue v1
2. Ripper v1
3. Low-Light v1
4. Outback v1
5. Toxo-Viper v1
6. Rock n Roll v2
7. Flint v1
8. Snowjob v1
9. Wild Weasel v1
10. Rock n Roll v1